BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Safety John Torchio got alerted to Braelon Allen during a training camp film session last August. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was breaking down the secondary play when he brought up Allen, who was well down the tailback depth chart and little more than a physical curiosity.

"In our meetings with Coach Leonhard, we obviously watch the secondary, but he likes to point out guys who are having really good camps," Torchio said. "He (Allen) was running with the 3's and 4's but he was flashing. Coach Leonhard pointed it out, 'This guy is going to be a different guy for us.'

"He called him 'War Machine' because he was so big and chiseled and wanted contact."

Leonhard had actually tagged Allen, who had been originally recruited as a safety, with the nickname during summer conditioning. War Machine was the fictional Marvel Comics superhero in the Iron Man series. That brought Allen, the 17-year-old prodigy, to Torchio's attention.

"And surely he breaks out," Torchio said, "and has the kind of year that he had."

Despite having only 12 carries through the first four games of the 2021 season, Allen rushed for 1,268 yards and joined Ron Dayne, James White and Jonathan Taylor as the only true freshmen to ever run for 1,000 yards at Wisconsin. Allen went over 100 yards in seven consecutive games, all UW wins.

"A year ago, he was more, 'I'm a young guy, I'm a freshman, I'm just going to be quiet and do my job,'" Torchio said. "Obviously having a season like that, you're going to get more confidence and grow. He knows that he's that guy, he's the dude. It's like, 'All right, what can I do to take it to the next level?'

"That's what I've seen from him (this fall). He has just matured so much."

At virtually every interview session, Allen has been asked about the differences from frosh to soph and he has explained, "Last year everything was new to me. It was a process of learning the offense and also learning the position, whereas now I've played a season as a running back.

"Just expanding my knowledge of the new offense is probably the only difference from last year. I'm definitely more confident and a little more ready for the season."

And yet the Fond du Lac native hasn't forgotten what has factored into his success. Or who he is. And he has stated as much, "I'm approaching it the same way that I did last year: Take it day-by-day and try to learn something every day."

It would help, too, if the Badgers can keep their tailback rotation intact, their Big 3 specifically. It was something that they couldn't do in '21. And the season-ending injuries to Isaac Guerendo (Oct. 9) and Chez Mellusi (Nov. 6) came with a price since Allen's gas tank was nearly empty at Minnesota.

"Of all the games that I missed that was probably the most difficult for me," Mellusi said of the loss to the Gophers that prevented the Badgers from winning the Big Ten West. "I don't like missing games in general but that especially ate at me because I felt like I could have changed the game."

Prior to Mellusi tearing his ACL at Rutgers, he had paired with Allen to give the offense a productive one-two punch. Even though he missed the final four games, Mellusi, the Clemson transfer, was still only 185 yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard plateau (173 carries for 815 yards). He went over 100 yards four times.

Reflecting on his learning curve in the Big Ten, he said, "First off, playing running back at this school alone, helps a bunch of different ways. You learn so much in this offense. In the Big Ten, it's probably more physical than where I was before (ACC). A lot more physical honestly."

Mellusi played at around 200 pounds last season. He has since added muscle and he's now sporting 210 pounds on his 5-11 frame. "Coming off the ACL, I got a lot stronger," he said. "I was in rehab all day, every day, and it allowed me to hone-in on my body. This is probably the best I've ever felt."

This was the first structured off-season for Mellusi since his prep days in Naples, Florida. After his freshman season at Clemson, the spring was wiped out by COVID. After his sophomore year, he transferred to the UW. "I never really had an off-season in college," he conceded. "It was kind of weird."

Torchio has noticed the difference in how Mellusi is carrying himself. "It's remarkable that he's back and looking like this after the injury that he had," he said. "Obviously, I see him in the locker room in a cutoff and he's chiseled … he's bigger, he has added some pounds.

"With the pads on, he runs a little different. I think he runs more confident, more physical because he knows that he has that extra muscle on him. He's just so quick and twitchy and I didn't expect him to be like that right away off his injury. He has really impressed me. He's looked really good."

The Badgers have been careful with Mellusi's work usage, the equivalent of a pitch-count during camp. "It's all up to Coach (Paul) Chryst. I'm good to go, but he wants to monitor me to make sure," said Mellusi.

"Each guy when he comes back from an injury or missing some time, there's a lot to progress through – each day there is kind of a hurdle that needs to be cleared," Chryst said. "Credit to him. Seems to be a good schedule for him right now … and when he goes (practices), he's going."

Chryst has loved the approach Mellusi and Guerendo have taken to their respective rehabs. "It seems it has been really smooth for him," Chryst said of the recovery process for Guerendo whose '21 highlights included 13 rushes against Penn State and an 82-yard touchdown against Eastern Michigan.

"Last year, he was coming into really, truly feeling and understanding the position. I give him credit. He has missed a lot of time and came back (Guerendo has appeared in just 15 games over the past four seasons at Wisconsin)." And Chryst offered this kicker, "Isaac is more than just a speed guy."

During a recent practice, the 6-foot, 223-pound Guerendo showed off his burst hitting the hole. "I was feeling good," Guerendo said afterwards, "just being able to play fast because there's nothing in the back of my mind holding me back. I'm 100 percent and I'm just allowed to go out and play.

"I like to use my speed to my advantage when I get the opportunity. But at the same time, I don't want to take away from any other aspect of being a running back. I want to make sure that's not the only thing you see. I want to show that I can do more."

Guerendo has turned any injury-related negatives into a positive. "Going through what I've been through is another edge in attacking every opportunity like it's the last," he said. "People always ask me, 'How do you stay positive throughout all this stuff?' It's just the positive way I look at it."

That Guerendo and Mellusi went through so many stages of their rehab together was no small thing. "We got closer than ever," said Guerendo, a fifth-year senior from Clayton, Indiana. "We were using each other and holding each other accountable during a tough time."

The Badgers feel good about the competition in their running back room. Pushing for reps behind Allen, Mellusi and Guerendo have been Julius Davis, Brady Schipper and Grover Bortolotti. The fullbacks, Jackson Acker and Riley Nowakowski, have brought their own personality to the mix.

"It's definitely a competitive room for sure," Guerendo said. "We all have high standards for each other. And we all use that – no matter the rotation – to fuel us. You look at somebody doing something good and it's, 'All right, that's a challenge to me, let me try to do that."'

Added Mellusi, "Every running back on the depth chart can play for us."

Each has his own running style, too. "We're completely different," Guerendo suggested. "We bring a different edge; we bring different things to the field. It's going to be hard for some teams to game plan against us just because you're not planning for one main guy."'

But, in reality, they are. First and foremost, opponents have to account for Allen. Guerendo observed, "How fast he's playing right now is an amazing thing to see. He's really confident. You can see it in the runs and in the protection game. He has definitely taken a leadership role in the room."

One leader is missing. Mellusi confided he thinks "all the time" about former UW running backs coach Gary Brown, who passed away last April. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, he recruited me," Mellusi said. Replacing Brown has been Al Johnson, a one-time stalwart on the O-line for the Badgers.

"I've felt comfortable with Coach Johnson from day one," Mellusi continued. "He's a great dude with a great presence. He played football here (3rd team All-American center, 2002) so it's like, 'How can you not listen to this dude?' He's been through it; he's been through the grit."

The Badgers have adapted to another new, distinctive voice in the offensive meeting room: Engram. Noted Mellusi, "He gives a whole different idea to the offense. He came from the NFL, but he also gives his own spice to certain plays. He's definitely trying to open our playbook a little more."

One potential way to do that is to utilize the tailbacks as receiving threats out of the backfield. Last season, Allen and Mellusi combined for only 15 catches. By comparison, the Michigan duo of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum had a combined 42 receptions, a strategy that diversified the offense.

"Obviously, we're going to run the ball," said Guerendo, a prep wide receiver. "But being able to get out on routes in the pass game is going to be something that is going to help our offense as a whole. I definitely feel like I'm sharpening all of my tools, whether third down, second down or first down."

Whether it's Allen, Mellusi or Guerendo, they pose threats to a defense. Running or receiving.

"We can all play off each other," said Allen, the War Machine. "It's great to have them back."